Crimson Tide Women?s Basketball Team Finishes Summer Training
8/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Alabama women's basketball players finished up summer classes and have scattered to their various homes this week, to return on August 23 for the beginning of the fall semester at UA. The short respite, however, as been well deserved, as the team has just completed a busy summer. In addition to summer class and community service work off the court, the players have put in an impressive number of hours in the weight room and on the hardwood in preparation for the 2006-07 season.
Since the end of the spring semester in May and the arrival in Tuscaloosa of seven newcomers to the Tide program in early June, the team was able to participate in voluntary workouts on campus. Just as importantly, attendance at the voluntary sessions was perfect from upperclassmen and new arrivals alike.
"Anytime players commit to voluntarily to come in and stay on campus, to me that is directly related to the commitment you are going to have during the season and the success you are capable of having," head coach Stephany Smith said. "When the game is on the line, it's not just about making plays it is about feeling like you deserve to win. Summer is not just about getting better and getting in shape, it is about getting a mental edge to help you win those close games during the season."
That mental edge comes from working under a demanding off-season schedule that was designed for each player to improve in several facets of the game.
"We were really just trying to push as hard as we could," senior guard Leah Drury said. "We had to get to know each other for the season and we needed to improve upon all of our weaknesses. Every morning we lifted weights and ran throughout the week and we tried to get in the gym with partners for skill development. We also tried to get together and play at least two times a week somewhere on campus."
Like most programs, the Alabama team utilized the lower-pressure and more loosely structured schedule in the summer
Martin, on staff with UA since fall of 2005, took over her duties with the women's basketball team this spring. Previously, she had tutored the softball and women's golf team while assisting with football and women's track & field. The Texas Women's University graduate came to the Capstone after a two-year internship at Texas A&M. She brings a wealth of experience and a proven philosophy to her new post.
"My overall philosophy is to train the whole athlete," Martin said. "You need them to have speed, strength and power all-year round, you can't just do those things during certain times of the year. My goals for them this summer have been to improve their core strength and their ability to withstand injuries."
For her part, Smith is excited to have a strength & conditioning coach with the breadth of experience and the enthusiasm for the position that Martin possesses.
"In my initial meeting with Michelle, what was immediately evident was her passion for her job and her genuine interest in pushing her athletes to be the most well-conditioned athlete they can be," Smith said. "A lot of strength coaches have knowledge of what to do, but what seperates the great ones is their ability to communicate with the athletes and to pull the most out of them. Michelle absolutely has that characteristic."
Martin was impressed with the hard work demonstrated by her new pupils throughout the summer.
"All of the players are outgoing and are great girls, so that helps me out a lot," Martin added. "The coaches have been great and the players have worked extremely hard. It has been fun to watch them grow, gain the proper technique and look like collegiate athletes after just a few short months. They have pushed each other, which in turn has made each person work harder, and it was really nice to see them all so dedicated and competing with each other as well."
In addition to the improvement upon the physical aspects of the game, the summer was a perfect time to build some team chemistry among the veterans and new players. With seven newcomers to the program, that chemistry will be a key for success for the 2006-07 team.
"It was a great opportunity without the stress of a heavy load of academics and such a regimented schedule as you have during the school year," Smith said. "With a little more of a laid-back environment, it gave our players a chance to get to know each other and have a little more fun. They had more time to do things on the floor and off and it was a great opportunity for our team to get to know each other better and grow as a team and as a family."
The Crimson Tide women's basketball team will officially begin the 2006-07 season on October 13, when the first day of practice will be held.
